Single string bass viol



Nov. 25, 1958 E, GUTHRIE; 2,861,494

SINGLE STRING BASS VIOL Filed April 6, 1956 INVENTOR.

THOMAS E. GUTHR/E ATTORNEYS SINGLE STRING BASS VIOL Thomas E. Guthrie, Mentor, Ohio Application April 6, 1956, Serial No. 576,688

4 Claims. (Cl. 84-473) This invention pertains to musical instruments, and more particularly to a simple, inexpensive device which will produce tones simulating a bass viol.

It has long been known in the art that a variable pitch rhythm instrument may be formed from a wash tub. This is accomplished by punching a hole in the midpoint of the base of the tub. A string is then fixed to the tub at this hole and fixed at its other end to a lever handle.

The lever handle is then pivoted against the edge of the tub with the tub in an inverted position. By stroking the string and manipulating the handle to vary the tension of the string, musical tones can be obtained. The tones, however, have an extremely tinny sound and though with an experienced and expert operator the tones may have a true pitch, nonetheless the tonal quality is very oor.

p It has been discovered that an unexpectedly good result can be obtained if a similar tub device is constructed with fibre sheet side walls and top section. The tones produced by such instrument are of such high quality that even the most experienced and proficient musicians find it extremely diflicult to audibly determine whether the tone is produced by this instrument or the most expensive bass viol.

It is, then, a principal object of this invention to provide a musical instrument having a fibre sheet resonating top member and fibre side walls to produce musical tones.

It has further been discovered that the tonal qualities of this instrument may be enhanced if the instrument is placed with an open end spaced from but directed toward a support surface.

Thus, a further object of this invention is to provide a device in which supporting and reinforcing legs are provided to hold the device in spaced relationship with a support surface.

A further object of this invention is to permit resonating tones to pass from the interior of the device through the provision of a plurality of apertures in upstanding side walls of the device.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the device;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device showing the pitch control handle in section, and taken from the plane indicated by the line 22 of Figure l; and,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the features of internal construction of the device.

Referring to the drawing, a tone member is shown generally at 10. The tone member has an upstanding side wall 11 with a top end 12 and a bottom end 13. The side walls are preferably cylindrically contoured to provide a tone cavity 40. A tone cavity of such cylindrical configuration appears to materially enhance the quality of tones emitted from the instrument.

States Patent 2,861,494 Patented Nov. 25, 1958 The side wall 11 may have a lower strengthening ring 14 fixed to the bottom end 13. A circular rim 15 is connected to the top end 12 of the side wall 11. This connection may be formed by crimping the rim 15 over the top end 12 of the side wall 11.

A top section 16 of circular configuration is provided. The top section 16 is connected at its periphery 17 to the rim 15. This connection may also be formed by crimping the rim 15 over the peripheral edge of the top section 16. A string 18 of gut, nylon, or other suitable material is provided. The string 18 has first and second ends 19, 20. The first end 19 of the string 18 is passed through an aperture 22 in a central portion of the top section 16. The aperture 22 is preferably centrally located in the top section 16. The string 18 may be connected to the top section 16 by passing it through a base block 23 and then knotting the end to prevent its being pulled back through the base block 23.

A pitch control handle 25 having top and bottom ends 26, 27 is provided. The second end 20 of the string 18 is fixed to the top or outer end 26 of the pitch control handle 25 as by passing it through an opening and knotting the end. The bottom end 27 of the pitch control handle 25 is notched for operable connection to the rim 15. The pitch control handle 25 may be mounted on a fin portion 29 which is preferably provided as part of the rim 15.

In operation a performer manipulates the pitch control handle back and forth to adjust the tension of the string 18 and the top section 16. The greater the tension the higher the tone, and, conversely, the less the tension the lower the tone.

The top section is formed of a tough fibrous material such as a plastic reinforced heavy fibreboard. Well known fibre material for water proof fibre containers is suitable for this purpose. Better results are also obtainable if the side wall 11 is formed of comparable material. Appropriate side wall and top sections may be obtained, for example, by employing eight laminates or plies of solid kraft fibreboard of 0.014 inch thickness. The laminates are bonded together by an adhesive such as sodium silicate. The material may be strengthened by impregnatio-ns with well known strengthening agents such as polyethylene. Additionally, one or more plies of chip board may be added for strength.

Outstanding and unexpected results have been obtained with this device. The tonal qualities simulate to a degree that is almost indistinguishable, if not completely so, the tones obtained with expensive and cumbersome bass viols. This is true whether a bow is manipulated across the string 18 or whether the string is simply plucked.

Further, the strength characteristics of fibre material are such that an unexpected and unusually long instrument life is obtained. The life span of such an instrument is greater than the life of a crude wash tube arrangement of the type which has'heretofore been used.

In the preferred embodiment of the device, a plurality of legs 30 are fixed to the hollow member 10. This connection may be formed by inserting screws 31 to connect the legs 39 to the top rim 15 and the lower strengthening ring 14. In this preferred connection the legs are held spaced from the side wall 11. e

The foot portions of the legs 36} rest against a floor, indicated at 32, and hold the bottom end 13 of the side wall 11 in spaced relationship with the floor 32. Thus, an opening indicated at 33 is formed between the fioor 32 and the bottom end 13 of the side walls 11.

Apertures or openings 34 may also be formed in the side walls 11 to permit tones to pass freely from the instrument. The openings 34 and the space 33 together 3 permit tones produced by the instrument to pass outwardly and thereby aid in the provision of an instrument with substantial volume.

There has thus been described an improved musical instrument in which the resonating elements are formed of a reinforced fibre material and which is capable of producing tones of high quality. An instrument which is supported oh strengthening legs which also aid in the provision of a better tone has also been described.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. A musical instrument of the single string bass type comprising, a resonance body member of generally cylindrical form, said body member having a fibrous disc-like head and a cylindrical side, said head and side being connected by a metallic rim having an upstanding fin portion, an elongated control member pivotally mounted on said fin portion, and a vibratable string interconnecting the outer end of said control member and a central portion of said head.

2. A musical instrument of the single string bass type comprising, a resonance body member of generally cylindrical form, said body member having a fibrous disc-like head and a cylindrical side, said head and side being connected by a metallic rim having an upstanding fin portion, an elongated control member pivotally mounted on said fin portion, a vibratable string interconnecting the outer end of said control member and a central portion of said head, the cylindrical body member having a lower circular edge, and a strengthening metal ring fixed to the lower edge of said cylindrical portion.

3. A musical instrument of the single string bass type comprising, a resonance body member of generally cylindrical form, said body member having a fibrous disclike head and a cylindrical side, said head and side being connected by a metallic rim having an upstanding fin portion, an elongated control member pivotally mounted on said fin portion, a vibratable string interconnecting the outer end of said control member and a central portion of said head, the cylindrical body member having a lower circular edge, a strengthening metal ring fixed to the lower edge of said cylindrical portion, and a plurality of legs fixed to the body, each such leg having a foot portion projecting beneath the body for support of the body in spaced relationship with a floor or the like.

4. A musical instrument of the single string bass type comprising, a resonance body member of generally cylindrical form, said body member having a fibrous disclike head and a cylindrical side, said head and side being connected by a metallic rim having an upstanding fin portion, an elongated control member pivotally mounted on said fin portion, and a vibratable string interconnecting the outer end of said control member and a central portion of said head, said body having a plurality of tone hole apertures formed in the sides thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent Build your own Brownie-Bass by Lionel Kilberg. 

